The exam week went OK – I think. I know I’ve made some errors, but overall they seemed to go OK. Between exams, we caught up on some odd jobs, and have been finishing things off in our last two weeks.

One of the group has erected a mockup of a large boat’s hull, for caulking practice.

Work on the Deck Boat is about done. Rowlocks have been fitted and all the knees have been fitted now.

I have finished my decking exercise:

My test oar has had many coats of varnish, and I have now added the leather and copper bands to both Practice and Test oar:

During this week, I have also been making Gripes in readiness for making my own clinker dinghy. They hold the new plank in place for fitting and fixing. Here are some of the wedged gripes, complete with leather protective pad:

There’s just two more days to go … ahh!

It all feels rather odd. The year has gone so quickly. But I have learned so much and dare to feel the I can now build a clinker dinghy on my own – though I am glad to have the offer of a helping hand and advice from a couple of the instructors!!